Charlie, how are you now? I feel for you I've not been diagnosed with any of that but have similar issues lots of pain and burning stomach and a few other issues what a mess all this crap can be.

Having children can be hard when your going through something like this, it's hard to be present if you know what I mean!

I go to the gerd/heartburn site on here and have been helped a lot lot's of information as far as diet goes and just having someone to answer my questions.

Have you changed your diet. I'm sure the doctors have told you about changing your diet? If not then really that is so key.

If you go to the gerd/heartburn area on here and click on the PPi's and a few others you will see a lot of great information on diet and key lifestyle changes.

I hope you are feeling better today. and Good luck with every thing!!

Vicki.

Hi Vcki

thanks for your reply. Since my last entry I have also been treated for H Pylori infection. just finished the Antibiotics. fingers crossed that they have done the job.

thanks for the advice i will check out the other site. I have changed my diet and completey cut out alcohol, even raised the head of my bed.

take care

Charlie

Hi Charlie and Vicki!

I know how you feel Charlie.. I was diagnosed with a small sliding HH over a year ago and it was life changing for me too! Mine is considered pretty small and your symptoms sound on the milder side to me.. Some people in these threads have way more serious problems with their HH.

The HH can give you heartburn most of the time and your symptoms are all the same as what I can have if I am not careful with my diet. I manage mine with diet and another thread that Vicki and I are on all the time that has good info on managing heartburn and GERD is the one that is"are there any good stories" there is alot of info in that one too!

Your symptoms are all about acid coming into the esophagus and the reaction of the esophagus.. The blood thing is also acid related.. no real blood. If you have had these symptoms for a short time then you should be able to get rid of the esophagitis in about 2 months.

The meds take a while to work but they should get rid of the swallowing problem and the other symptoms.. you just need to see a specialist regularly and when you go off the meds it has to be managed carefully or the acid reflux will come back again.. Once you have HH you have to be really careful and stick to all the rules and then you can be heartburn free.

It is a learning curve thing and it takes time to learn how to avoid heartburn with an HH but it can be done if you have a smaller one. I think 3 cm is considered small.. the specialsit will tell you about how to manage it but we are all different and what causes acid reflux in some of us can be different as well. You will figure it out over time.

Hang in there, it will get better as you learn more about it.

Lesley

Hi Lesley

Thanks for all the advice and taking time to post your comment. It seems strange through all of this that i have never experienced any heartburn or reflux. The problems i have are all in my throat. I have been back to the doctors twice and he has now diagnosed me with Laryngitus. He has also prescribed me Domperidone which appears to be helping a lot. I am due to have a Barium Swallow and an Ultra sound on my stomach on Monday to see if i have problems with my swallowing, then i will be having a PH monitor fitted for 24 hrs. This is a very strange time indeed.

Happy new year to every one

Charlie

Hi Charlie,


I hope you dont have reflux. You can have what they call silent reflux.. I have that as well sometimes. I rarely have typical heartburn. Not all doctors know about it so just make sure someone gets a good look at your throat and larynx. Usually an ears nose and throat person makes that diagnosis for the refluxing in the throat. It tends to happen while sleeping. Have you seen that type of specialist?There is a specific name for reflux in that area and I cant remember it.. The symptoms are more subtle. Like regular clearing of your throat.. mucous at the back of your throat,, hoarseness.. coughing, post nasal drip, trouble swallowing and a feeling like something is stuck in there, trouble breathing. People often get misdiagnosed. So just be careful.

The sore stomach could be the hernia depending on where you have the soreness,, It is usually just below the ribs on the left side. .

I hope it all goes OK though and you get it figured out for certain.

Let us know.

All the best for 2014!

Lesley

Hi lesley

I have recently just come out of hospital have spend four days in there. I had Gastroenteritus brought on by Food poisoning Compilor Bactor it is known as. I have never had anything like this before so i can only connect it to the Hernia. Yes i have seen an ENT consultant he put a camera up my nose and down my throat he confirmed all was well, However my Doctor is sending me again because my throat pain is no better despite the medication. I have had my barium swallow and i am waiting for my HP Manometry Test. i think the docs are going down the surgery route . Do you get shoulder and back pain? i have recently started having pains in this area so was sent to a Physiotherapist through work he confirmed that it was due to the Hernia and that i must walk and move around more. Sometimes it feels like this Hernia has taken over my life. But like all things overtime time you do get accustomed to it. Take care

Charlie

Hi Charlie,,

Poor you! Gastroenteritus! That is terrible! I hope you are feeling a lot better now! I know it is usually a bacteria in food/water that can cause that. You may be more vulnerable because of an HH, not sure though.

It is rweally good you are not having reflux though!

Your HH.. is it a sliding type or the fixed type? The fixed type is considered a hidden cause of a few problems. The sliding type is very common. That is what I have and it doesnt bother me too much. I went to an osteopath that helped me a lot with it. But, I know people can feel weird on right side in the back area. When I have reflux, I get a burning in my back on the right. The osteopath says the esophagus is very close to the spine and when it spasms you can get weird sensations in the back. I know others who do complain about their shoulder too with an HH. So that is probably the issue you are having.

There is a mechanical problem with the HH, so I can see how if you are lying down for a long time or sitting in a slouching position too much you can have weird symptoms. The esophagus and the top of stomach may get strained or slightly bent. The osteopath says the diaphragm gets effected as well. It is all connected. Good posture is key with an HH. Try lying back on a large physio ball as well, just to stretch out the area and pull the stomach and esopaghus away from each ohter. I am a major exerciser and if I strain too much out to the left with my arm, I get this weird straining feeling under my left rib. It lasts for a few days or so. I know it is about the hernia and tightening in there. I go to the osteopath and he literally has it fixed after 20 minutes! The best thing I ever did for this issue was to go see an osteopath! Straining too much can cause an HH and can annoy it. I got mine from years of weight lifting and a lot of exercising. Are you a firefighter? I can see how that would be straining for your HH.

This all must be a worry for you. Gosh, surgery? Surgery on what, your throat? Is a 3cm HH considered large?? I didnt think so. Do the specialists think the HH is causing the throat to dysfunction? I know the esophagus dysfunctions with this. I am confused by this.. I am sure you are as well!!! Let me know.


YOu are not alone on the HH journey. It will get figured out over time but I know how hard this is at the moment. A fixed HH can be more challenging. I am thinking this may be what you have. I am pretty sure you will feel better after all this gets resolved though. It is hard to see that at the moment. Stay hopeful. Most problems get better.


THe impact on me of the HH was the changing of the diet to low acid foods to avoid heartburn and I have to be careful now with straining/exercise stuff.

Just take it one day at a time.

I hope this geets figured out soon for you!

Lesley

Hi Lesley

Its been a while since i last posted. i hope you are well. You were right about the LPR. I have been diagnosed by an ENT doctor that i have Silent Reflux. This is what is causing the throat problems. I hope your back pain is not causing you too much discomfort. Mine is very tiresome and painful. i find it hard to walk for more than half an hour without feeling a burning pain in my shoulder and back. i am due to have a 24hr ph manometry study on Wednesday to monitor my acid reflux. The results from this study will determine if the NHS will offer me Fundiplication surgery, although the ENT consultant confirmed that his diagnosis for Silent Reflux was enough to warrant surgery as i have a swollen larynx from all the acid relux. You say that you visit an Osteopath. What does the Osteopath do for you? How often do you go?

best wishes
Charlie

Hi Charlie,,

Good to hear from you. How do you feel about the surgery? I didnt think they did the surgery unless it was a large HH. Do they consider 3cm large? Just be careful. Check out on this site what others have to say about the surgery and do some research on it, OK?

How long have you had silent reflux? Do you know? Once the inflammation goes away you may feel a lot better. I am thinking there is a relationship between LPR and your back as well. I am also thinking your esophagus must be inflammed. The inflammation in both areas may be impacting your back. But you can have weird symptoms from an HH so that may be contributing to it. Do they feel the back issue is related to the HH? All the spasming in the throat and larynx and esophagus could cause your back to tighten up as well but it could be the HH too. I am not sure.

I will be thinking about you and hope you get it resolved soon. Your back issue sounds very uncomfortable. If you have had the LPR for quite a while I think it takes about 4 months, sometimes a year for it to heal. Staying on the meds and propping yourself up at sleep will help to avoid refluxing. That issue tends to come with night time reflux. The propping will make it better.

Yes, the osteopath I have seen once a week for my HH when I have a reflux flareup. I find he mainly helps with the tightening up issue between the diaphragm and esophagus(in a flare up) but he also releases the back tension/aching I get when I have an inflammed esophagus. He does some mechanical manipulations etc that do work for me. You may want to just interview an osteopath and see what you think. All of them have experience with HH and understand a lot about them and how they impact the body. You might get some relief from a session. The osteopath will be able to tell you if your back pain is from esophageal/larynx inflammation or from the mechanical problem of the HH. It would be good to know for sure.

Also if you have had reflux for long enough that your larynx is pretty inflammed you probably need a stronger PPI..20 mg may be way too low.. That is for mild reflux..When I have had a bad flareup I took 60mg of dexilant. It works fast.. heals the area quickly. I rarely have to take anything like that but it works well to heal the area..

I have never heard of Domperidone for an acid reflux problem. It relaxes the esophagus right? Are you still taking that? I am guessing it reduces the spasming, which would make you feel a bit better. You need to be on the right dosage of PPI to speed up the healing of the inflammed area. PPI's reduce the acid in the tummy and then less acid hits the inflammed areas. Then it has a better chance to heal.

Try working on your diet as well. Eat less acidic foods and more low fat foods. That will reduce the acid reflux as well.

I hope you get better soon!

Let me know how you make out!

God Bless!

lesley

Hi lesley

Thanks for all the info you sound very informed. i take 30mg of Lanzoprazole a day, this i am told is the maximum. The back pain is getting me down. It has impacted on my every day activities in a large way. I have had the PH manometry test. The doctor who carried it out advised that back and arm pain is a symptom of reflux. Some people get it in their chest while others feel it in there backs. She also confirmed that the valve at the top of my stomach was not working at all as there was no pressure there when i swallowed water. I began feeling the signs of silent reflux last September and i have been on the medication for nearly five months now. I will contact an Osteopath and see if i get any relief there. I'm due to see the Gastro consultant on 2 April to get my results from the 24 PH Manometry test. Thanks for all your support. i will let you know how i get on

take care

Charlie

Hi Charlie

I am sorry for all you are going through. I know how hard this issue can be.. I have been where you are. Your HH is probably bigger than mine. People have no clue how lousy you can feel with this issue. it is the acid coming up that causes all the problems.

I have been on that med you are on and it didnt work well for me either. I was on 40mg. So I am not sure why you have been told 30mg is the highest. What country are you in? When you have a bad flare up and need more help, Dexilant 60mg is very good. Can you get that where you are? I notice the access to different meds/dosages seems to be different in different countries. I only take PPI's in the short term and not too often but you have to get yourself out of this bad falreup you are experiencing. Then your back will feel a lot better.

How are you doing diet wise? Your diet has to change a lot in order for the esophagus/throat etc to heal. When you have an HH you always have to change your diet and forever. Do you know about how to manage the diet part and you also need to prop yourself up at night while sleeping to avoid acid coming up all night. Posture is a key issue as well. It helps keep the stomach further away from the esophagus. Yes the valve does not function well with an HH.

A good osteopath can educate you on the HH and how to manage it. Mine helps me with the tightening that can go on in there in different areas, like the back and the diaphragm as well. I only need to go in a bad flare up. I think you a re having a bad flare up. The back thing happens when the lining of the esophagus is very inflammed. That usually happens over many months of reflux. It has to be managed with diet, not eating 6 hours before bed and eating about 6 small meals a day as well as deep breathing/ yoga stuff is good because it can actually help your stomach to move down more.


Some chiropractors can reduce the HH as well. You may want to check them out too but interview them first. I am going to one in a few weeks who has a lot of experience with this issue. I am not sure it will work though. It is worth a try. I am not sure the stomach can be moved down once it moves up.

I feel for you. Work on the diet part. YOu need to figure out all the things that give you reflux and that takes time. There is way more than the basic 6 items the gastro tells you about.

Good Luck,

let me know how you make out.

Lesley


The stronger the med

Hi Leslie, Charlie

I have been reading your posts...and I have the same problem. I have a small sliding HH. I have acid reflux.. I try managing with diet, but it is so hard to eat right. I have taken 40 mg of Pantoprazole (protonix) and my GI told me I can take upto twice a day for a total of 80mg a day when I feel really bad...I have never taken two in a day. I have been off meds for about 4 mos & trying to manage on my own...when I do feel really bad I will take a pill, but that has only happened about 2-3 times and I will only take it once. I get back on my diet and I feel a bit better.

Leslie

How does the osteopath help with the HH? The manipulations? Is it painful/uncomfortable? How would you go about finding a good osteopath? I am in the Los Angeles area and don't have a clue what to look for in an osteopath? I would like to start exercising, but am afraid it will do more damage to me? I don't have another appt with my GI for another 2 mos.

Hope your are both doing well:)

Hi hopehappens,

It is really good you are managing this with diet. You do have to be careful to make sure your esophagus is not constantly inflammed when you manage it with diet. I find my diet has to be really strict in order to not have any symptoms at all. It is very hard to do. I did it for about 7 months and had no symptoms at all. I lost a lot of weight and I was small to begin with. So now I am trying to gain weight and not get any reflux. That is a big challenge. So I do take Zantac and eat more a couple of times a week then I take a break from the Zantac. I dont like to take anything but I need to in order to gain weight.

I tried protonix and I thought it didnt work well at all. I take a PPI on holiday and I took it to California and I ended up in a bad flareup from all the pepper in everything. The protonix couldnt deal with it well at all.

Definitely start exercising. I am an avid exerciser. Have been forever. The only caution is weight lifting. I think that made my stomach move up more. Straining is not good for the HH but I do weight lift still. I am just way more careful. Try walking fast everyday. Cardio actually makes the food move out of your stomach more quickly and then you have less reflux due to that. Exercise is good for relux as long as your are not bouncing too much after you eat. So I run after a small meal in the morning or later at night. It works perfectly. Dont drink to much either.

The osteopaths are very good. They understand HH's very well and they can manipulate the area and reduce the tightness in there. It is hard to explain but the diaphragm gets affected as well. They may even be able to reduce an HH as well. I think mine is better after seeing him so much. Like I can weight lift without getting this weird pressure in there that I used to get. It is hard to explain.

Some have a lot of experience with the HH issue. Google to find out ones that are highly rated in L A. I am sure there are a lot of them there. Just start asking around. I found out about this guy through my sports med doctor. But naturopathic clinics often have an osteopath. Then interview a few.



Good Luck,

Lesley

Hi

It has been a while since i last posted. if you read the previous posts you will see that i have had all the tests which confirm i have a HH, LPR (silent reflux) and high acid reflux. I have finally been offered the surgery to correct the Hernia which in turn should eliminate or reduce the reflux. However the the surgeon has stated that this is only the case in 9 out of 10. All this is on the NHS.

If this operation had been offered to me 12 months ago i would have taken it in a shot, however following 14 months of medication and change in life style the symptoms i was experiencing have reduced dramatically enough so that i can now lead a relatively normal life. i still experience throat pain if i have overdone it on the eating and drinking, however the back pain and stomach pain and bloating is all but gone.

I now have a choice of a lifetime of medication or the surgery. i would say to anyone who is first diagnosed with this to give it time. With the meds and change in your diet life can get better.

Best of luck to everyone

Charlie